Package

ABSTRACT

A three-piece novel package structure comprises a box-shaped frame and a pair of holding elements. Each of the holding elements has a pair of flaps at its opposite ends that will be sandwiched by a pair of retaining covers between the retaining covers and the sidewalls of the frame. The retaining covers may further have tongues to engage with slots provided on the holding elements.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to packaging technologies, and more particularly, to a novel package structure for holding an item.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are never ending efforts to produce new designs and patterns in the packaging industry. Endeavors are mainly made to produce a package with aesthetically attractive appearance, to simplify the manufacturing process, to save the cost in assemblage as well as to improve reliability during transportation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

[0003] The present invention is to provide a package with a novel structure which is easy to manufacture and assemble, and also has an aesthetical looking for displaying items such as cosmetics, etc.

[0004] According to the present invention, the package is a three-piece product comprising a tube-shaped frame and a pair of holding elements. Each of the holding elements has at least one flap which will be sandwiched between a sidewall of the frame and a retaining cover folded-in from the top or bottom edge of the sidewall, whereby the holding elements are secured to the sidewalls of the frame with the item kept in a cavity jointly formed by the two holding elements.

[0005] Preferably, the frame is rectangular and box-shaped with a first pair and a second pair of sidewalls, and each of the holding elements has a substantially rectangular plane portion with a first pair and second pair of opposite edges correspondingly. Each holding element has a pair of flaps along at least one pair of the opposite edges, and the frame has a corresponding retaining cover for each flap to sandwiching the flap between the cover and a sidewall, whereby securing the holding elements to the frame.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, one or both of the holding elements are provided with at least one slot at a juncture where the flap and the rectangular plane portion meet, and the corresponding retaining cover has a tongue to engage with the slot. One of the sidewalls may be detachably connected to an adjacent sidewall so as to facilitate the assembling of the holding elements into the gap formed between the retaining covers and the sidewalls.

[0007] The flaps may be provided only along the first pair of the opposite edges for both the holding elements, or along the first pair of one holding element and along the second pair of the other holding element.

[0008] Preferably, at least one of the holding elements is made from transparent plastics so that the item can be displayed to potential customers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clear from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the package of the present invention in an assembled state;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a disassembled perspective view of the first embodiment of the package according to the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a sectional view along A-A in FIG. 1 for the first embodiment in FIG. 2;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a disassembled perspective view of a second embodiment of the package according to the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the assembled package of the second embodiment in FIG. 4;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a sectional view along A-A in FIG. 1 for the second embodiment in FIG. 4;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a disassembled perspective view of a third embodiment of the package according to the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a disassembled perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the package according to the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 9 is an assembled perspective view of the fourth embodiment in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

[0019] The invention is now described in detail with preferred embodiments, and same reference numbers are used for designating similar elements or parts in all of the drawings.

[0020] The package of the present invention is generally designated as 100, as shown in FIG. 1. It is a three-piece structure which comprises a tube- or box-like frame 10 and a pair of holding elements 20, 30 (see FIGS. 2, 4, 7 and 8). When assembled as shown in FIG. 1, the item 101 is kept in a cavity formed by the concave portions 24, 34 of the holding elements 20, 30, and the holding elements 20, 30 are secured within the frame 10.

[0021] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a disassembled perspective view of the first embodiment of the inventive package. The three-piece package 100 comprises a generally rectangular box-like frame 10, an upper holding frame 20 and a lower holding frame 30. The frame 10 has a first pair of sidewalls 11, 12 and a second sidewalls 13, 14, each with a top edge 11 a, 12 a, 13 a, 14 a as well as a bottom edge 11 b, 12 b, 13 b, 14 b, respectively. Each of the upper holding elements 20 and 30 has a generally rectangular plane portion 21 and 31, with a first pair of opposite edges 21 a, 31 a and a second pair of opposite edges 21 b, 31 b, corresponding to the sidewalls 11, 12 and 13, 14 respectively.

[0022] A concave portion 24, 34 is formed, e.g., by a conventional press technique, on the plane portion 21, 31 respectively, each of the concave portion 24, 34 assuming a half of the contours of the item 101. Thus, when the two holding elements 20, 30 are placed together with the plane portions 21, 23 against each other, the concave portions 24, 34 jointly form a cavity for accommodating the item 101 and keeping it therein.

[0023] A pair of flaps 22, 23 are provided along the first pair of edges 21a of the upper holding element 21 and extend perpendicular to the plane portion 21 in the same direction that the concave portion 24 bulges. Similarly, a pair of flaps 32, 33 are provided along the first pair of edges 31 a of the lower holding elements 31 and extend perpendicular to the plane portion 31 in the same direction that the concave portion 34 bulges. The flaps 22, 23, 32, 33 facilitate the holding elements 20, 30 to be secured to the frame 10, as described below.

[0024] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a retaining cover 15 a, 15 b, 16 a, 16 b is provided at each of the first pairs of top edges 11 a, 12 a and bottom edges 11 b, 12 b of the first pair of sidewalls 11, 12 of the frame 10, as a folded-in extension along the edges 11 a, 12 a, 11 b, 12 b of the sidewalls 11, 12. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the flaps 22, 23 of the upper holding element 20 are sandwiched between the retaining covers 15 a, 16 a and the sidewalls 11, 12 respectively, and the flaps 32, 33 of the lower holding element 30 are sandwiched between the retaining covers 15 b, 16 b and the sidewalls 11, 12 respectively. Thus, the two holding elements 20, 30 are secured to the sidewalls 11, 12 of the frame 10 by the fact that the flaps 22, 23, 32, 33 of the holding elements are retained on the inner sides of the sidewalls 11, 12 of the frame, with the item 101 kept in the cavity formed together by the concave portions 24, 34.

[0025] As may be noted in FIG. 3, the retaining covers 15 a, 15 b, 16 a, 16 b are fixed to the sidewalls 11, 12 by an adhesive 41 a, 41 b, 42 a, 42 b at a portion close to the top and bottom edges 11 a, 12 a, 11 b, 12 b along the width of the sidewalls 11, 12 such that some of the retaining covers are fixed to the sidewalls 11, 12. A gap is formed between each retaining covers 15 a, 15 b, 16 a, 16 b and the sidewalls 11, 12 at a portion close to the free edges of the retaining covers for keeping the flaps 22, 23, 32, 33 therein.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the sidewall 14 and the sidewall 11 are connected by a detachable insert-gap connection for facilitating the assembling of the package 101. In particular, the sidewall 14 is provided with an insert 17, which is an extension from a vertical edge of the wall 14. The insert 17 can be inserted into a vertical gap 19 formed between the retaining covers 15 a, 15 b and the sidewall 11. For this purpose, the adhesive 41 a, 41 b are preferably not applied in a portion close to the gap 19.

[0027] In use, the item 101 is placed in the concave portion 34 of the lower holding element 30, and then is covered with the upper holding element 20. With the sidewall 14 detached from the sidewall 11, and with the holding elements 20, 30 kept together, the flaps 22, 23, 32, 33 are then inserted along the gaps formed between the retaining covers 15 a, 15 b, 16 a, 16 b and the sidewalls 11, 12. Finally, the insert 17 is inserted into the vertical gap 19 to form a closing frame 10. Thus, the holding elements 20, 30, with the item 101 kept in the cavity formed by the concave portions 24, 34, are secured in position inside the frame 10.

[0028] The assembling process is therefore very simple and easy, without a need of additional tool.

[0029] For displaying the item 101 to potential customers, one or both of the holding elements 20,30 are preferably made of a transparent material.

[0030] FIGS. 4-6 show the second embodiment of the package according to the present invention, which is generally similar to the first embodiment except that the upper holding element 20 is secured to the frame 10 with a tongue-slot engagement. Only the part that is different from that of the first embodiment will be described here in detail.

[0031] It may be noted in FIGS. 4-6 that a pair of flaps 25 and 26 are provided along the second pair of opposite edges 21 b of the upper holding element 20, instead of along the first pair of opposite edges 21 a as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, two narrow slots 27, 28 are provided at the juncture between the flaps 25, 26 and the plane portion 21. The slots 27, 28 may be formed by making a small cutting along the opposite edges 21 b or on the plane portion 21. A pair of retaining cover 51,54 are provided as an extension from the pair of top edges 13 a, 14 a of the second pair of sidewalls 13, 14, and are capable of being folded-in along the top edges 13 a, 14 a. A pair of tongues 53, 56 are formed at the free edges 52, 55 of the retaining covers 51, 54 for engagement with the slots 27, 28 of the upper holding element 20, as more clearly shown in FIG. 5.

[0032] In use, the item 101 is placed in the concave portion 34 of the lower holding element 30. With the sidewall 14 detached from the sidewall 11, the flaps 32, 33 of the lower holding element 30 are inserted along the gaps formed between the retaining covers 15 b, 16 b and the sidewalls 11, 12. Then the insert 17 on the sidewall 14 is inserted into the vertical gap 19 to form a closing frame 10. After that, the upper holding element 20 is placed on the lower holding element 30, and the retaining covers 51, 54 are folded inward to press on the flaps 25, 26. Finally, the tongues 53, 56 of the retaining cover 51, 54 are inserted into the slots 27, 28, thus sandwiching the flaps 25, 26 between the retaining covers 51, 54 and the sidewalls 13, 14. The engagement of the tongues 53, 56 and the slots 27, 28 also keep the retaining covers 51, 54 in place.

[0033] The sectional view of the assembled package of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 6. It may be appreciated that the retaining covers 15 a, 16 a may be omitted in this second embodiment. If the retaining cover 15 a, which here only serves for forming the vertical gap 19, is omitted in this embodiment, the height of the insert 17 is preferably adjusted accordingly.

[0034] The second embodiment is more stable in structure because the engagement between the retaining covers 51, 54 and the sidewalls 13, 14 helps to keep the sidewall 14 in place, preventing the sidewall 14 from moving apart from the sidewall 11. Also, the assembling process is easier as the two holding elements 20, 30 are assembled to the frame separately.

[0035] A third embodiment is depicted in FIG. 7, which is different from the second embodiment in that the lower holding element 30 is also secured to the frame 10 with the tongue-slot engagement. In particular, three narrow slots 37, 38 are provided along the juncture between the flaps 32, 33 and the plane portion 31. The slots 37, 38 may be formed by making a small cutting along the opposite edges 31 a or on the plane portion 31. The retaining covers 15 b, 16 b are not adhered to the sidewalls 11, 12 as in the first and second embodiments, but are freely foldable inward to the sidewalls 11, 12. Three tongues 59, 63 are formed at the free edges 58, 62 of the retaining covers 15 b, 16 b for engagement with the slots 37, 38 of the lower holding element 30.

[0036] In use, with the item 101 (not shown) in the concave portion 34, the lower holding element 30 is put inside the frame 10, and the retaining covers 15 b, 16 b are folded inward to press on the flaps 32, 33. The tongues 59, 63 are inserted into the slots 37, 38 so that the lower holding element 30 is kept in place inside the frame 10. After that, the upper holding element 20 is placed on the lower holding element 30, and the retaining covers 51, 54 are folded inward to press on the flaps 25, 26. Finally, the tongues 53, 56 of the retaining cover 51, 54 are inserted into the slots 27, 28, thus sandwiching the flaps 25, 26 between the retaining covers 51, 54 and the sidewalls 13, 14. The engagement of the tongues 53, 56, 59, 63 and the slots 27, 28, 37, 38 also keeps the retaining covers 51, 54, 15 b, 16 b in place.

[0037] It shall be appreciated that in this embodiment the sidewalls 11, 12, 13, 14 are permanently connected to each other to form a closing frame 10, and thus the structure is more stable than the first and second embodiments.

[0038] A fourth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, which is simple in structure and generally similar to the third embodiment but without the tongue-slot engagement. In particular, each of the retaining covers 51, 54, 15 b, 16 b has a trapezoidal shape with a wider width at its free horizontal edge 52, 55, 58, 62. Thus, when the retaining cover 51 is folded inward to press on the flaps 25, the portion of the retaining cover 51 near the free side edges 51 a, 51 b will be forced to bend such that both of the side edges 51 a, 51 b of the cover 51 will tightly abut against the adjacent sidewalls 11 and 12, thus keeping the retaining cover 51 in place while at the same time sandwiching the flap 25 between the cover 51 and the sidewall 13, as shown in FIG. 9. Same stories happen to the other retaining covers 54, 15 b, 16 b.

[0039] The above has described several exemplary preferred embodiments of the present invention, it shall be appreciated, however, that various modifications and changes are possible to a person with ordinary skill in the art without departure of the spirit of the invention. For example, the different engagement mechanisms between the retaining covers and the laps disclosed in the different embodiments may be combined to be used for the package. Various materials may be used to manufacture the frame 10 and the holding elements 20, 30, which may include paperboard, plastics and any other suitable materials. Resilient materials such as paperboard and plastics may help in assembling the package as well as producing buffering effect, and also might somewhat help in disassembling the package without additional tool. The frame 10 and the holding elements 20, 30 may be made of same of different materials. For example, the frame 10 and the lower holding element 30 are made from non-transparent paperboard, while the upper holding element 20 is made of transparent plastics.

[0040] Furthermore, it is not always necessary that both the holding elements 20, 30 have a concave portion 24, 34 for accommodating the item 101 to be held. In particular, if the item has a flat side, only one of the holding elements 20, 30 need to be formed with a concave portion 24 or 34. Besides, the holding elements 20, 30 may also be provided with plurality of concave portions to hold several items 101.

[0041] The shape of the frame 10 is not limited to a rectangular box. It may be triangular, hexagonal or other polygonal in shape, or even circular or semi-circular in shape, especially when the tongue-slot engagement is used.

[0042] Therefore, the scope of the invention is intended to be solely defined in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A package for holding an item, comprising: a rectangular frame open at both top and bottom and having first and second pairs of opposite sidewalls with first and second pairs of top edges and bottom edges correspondingly; upper and lower holding elements, each having a generally rectangular planar portion with first and second pairs of opposite edges corresponding to said pairs of opposite sidewalls of said frame, for jointly forming a holder with a cavity for keeping said item therein when said two holding elements are put together with said planar portions against each other; wherein each holding element has a pair of flaps formed along at least one of said pairs of opposite edges and perpendicular to said planar portion, and said frame has, for each of said flaps, a retaining cover for sandwiching said each flap between said cover and corresponding one of said sidewalls, whereby said holder formed by said two holding elements is secured to said sidewalls inside said frame.
 2. The package of claim 1 wherein at least one of said holding elements is provided on said planar portion with a concave portion for forming said cavity for keeping said item.
 3. The package of claim 2 wherein both of said holding elements is provided with said concave portion.
 4. The package of claim 1 wherein said each retaining cover is an extension from said top or bottom edges of said corresponding sidewall of said frame.
 5. The package of claim 4, wherein said lower holding element is provided with a first pair of flaps along said first pair of opposite edges, and said frame is provided with a first pair of said retaining covers folded-in from said first pair of bottom edges.
 6. The package of claim 5 wherein each of said first pair of retaining covers folded-in from said bottom edges are fixed to said first pair of sidewalls at a portion close to said bottom edges such that a horizontal gap is formed between each of said first pair of covers and said sidewalls for retaining said first pair of flaps of said lower holding element therein.
 7. The package of claim 6 wherein said portion of said first pair of covers of said bottom edges is fixed to said sidewalls by an adhesive.
 8. The package of claim 6 wherein said upper holding element is provided with a second pair of flaps along said second pair of opposite edges, and said frame is provided with a second pair of retaining covers folded-in from said second pair of top edges.
 9. The package of claim 8 wherein at least one slot is formed at a juncture where each of said second pair of flaps and said planar portion of said upper holding element meet, and a tongue is formed as an extension from a free edge of each of said second pair of covers for engaging with said slot.
 10. The package of claim 9 wherein one of said first pair of sidewalls of said frame is detachably connected to one of said second pair of said sidewalls of said frame.
 11. The package of claim 10 wherein said one of said second pair of sidewalls has an insert extending from a free side edge of said sidewall and foldable along said free side edge, and said one of said first pair of sidewalls has a vertical gap at a free side edge for accepting said foldable insert whereby said two sidewalls are detachably connected together.
 12. The package of claim 11 wherein said vertical gap is formed between said one of said first pair of sidewalls and one of said first pair of retaining covers is folded-in on said sidewall.
 13. The package of claim 10 wherein said one of said first pair of sidewalls has an insert extending from a free side edge of said sidewall and foldable along said free side edge, and said one of said second pair of sidewalls has a vertical gap at a free side edge for accepting said foldable insert whereby said two sidewalls are connected together.
 14. The package of claim 5 wherein said upper holding element is provided with a first pair of flaps along said first pair of opposite edges, and said frame is provided with a first pair of said retaining covers folded-in from said first pair of said top edges.
 15. The package of claim 14 wherein each of said first pair of retaining covers folded-in from said top edges are fixed to said first pair of sidewalls at a portion close to said top edges such that a horizontal gap is formed between each of said first pair of covers and said sidewalls for retaining said first pair of flaps of said upper holding element therein.
 16. The package of claim 15 wherein said portion of said first pair of covers is fixed to said first pair of sidewalls by an adhesive.
 17. The package of claim 15 wherein one of said first pair of sidewalls of said frame is detachably connected to one of said second pair of sidewalls of said frame.
 18. The package of claim 17 wherein said one of said second pair of sidewalls has an insert extending from a free side edge of said sidewall along its height and foldable along said free side edge, and said one of said first pair of sidewalls has a vertical gap at a free side edge for accepting said foldable insert whereby said two sidewalls are connected together.
 19. The package of claim 18 wherein said vertical gap is formed between said one of said first pair of sidewalls and said two of said first pair of retaining covers is folded-in on said sidewall from said top and bottom edges respectively.
 20. The package of claim 5 wherein said upper holding element is provided with a second pair of flaps along said second pair of opposite edges, and said frame is provided with a second pair of retaining covers folded-in from said second pair of top edges.
 21. The package of claim 20 wherein at least one slot is formed at a juncture between each of said flaps and said planar portion of said holding elements, and a tongue is formed as an extension from a free edge of each of said covers for engaging said slot.
 22. The package of claim 1 wherein at least one of said holding elements is made of a transparent material.
 23. The package of claim 2 wherein at least said one holding element that has said concave portion is made of a transparent material.
 24. The package of claim 1 wherein each of said retaining covers has a free edge that is parallel to said top or bottom edge of said sidewall from which it is extended, and said free edge has a width wider than that of said top or bottom edge such that said retaining cover would partly press on adjacent sidewalls of said frame when said cover is folded in, whereby keeping both said flap and said cover in place within said frame.
 25. The package of claim 24 wherein only one of said pairs of top edges and one of said pairs of bottom edges of said frame are provided with said retaining covers.
 26. A package for holding an item, comprising: a pair of holding elements for jointly forming a holder having an enclosed cavity for keeping said item therein; a tube-shaped frame having a closing wall with an open top and an open bottom; wherein each of said holding elements has at least a flap formed along a peripheral edge, and said frame has a retaining cover to sandwich said flap between said cover and said closing wall such that said holder is secured to and inside said frame.
 27. The package of claim 26, wherein each of said holding elements is a plate-like element with a planar portion having said peripheral edge.
 28. The package of claim 27 wherein at least one of said holding elements has a concave portion formed on said planar portion for forming said cavity when said two holding elements are put together with said planar portion against each other.
 29. The package of claim 28 wherein said flap is substantially perpendicular to said planar portion.
 30. The package of claim 28 wherein said retaining cover is a board folded-in from an open edge of said closing wall.
 31. The package of claim 28 wherein at least one of said holding elements further comprises at least a slot at a junction between said flap and said planar portion, and said retaining cover further comprises a tongue extending from a free edge of said cover to engage with said slot.
 32. The package of claim 26 wherein at least one of said holding elements is made of a transparent material. 